Under-seat vehicle compartment having a clamp assembly for engaging a tube support and for absorbing tolerances and movement related noise

ABSTRACT

A storage container for a vehicular seat includes a cushion pan for supporting a cushion. A lateral support bar extends between opposing side members and is positioned below the cushion pan. A container housing is disposed between the opposing side members and is fixedly attached to an underside of the cushion pan. A rear clamp of the container housing defines a containment region within which the lateral support bar is disposed. The rear clamp defines a surface engagement with the lateral support bar and is slidably engaged with the lateral support bar. Generally vertical displacement of the container housing relative to the lateral support bar biases the lateral support bar against the rear clamp to define an absorbing state of the rear clamp that receives at least a portion of the generally vertical displacement of the container housing relative to the lateral support bar.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/993,365 filed Jan. 12, 2016, entitled UNDER-SEAT VEHICLECOMPARTMENT HAVING A CLAMP ASSEMBLY FOR ENGAGING A TUBE SUPPORT AND FORABSORBING TOLERANCES AND MOVEMENT RELATED NOISE, now U.S. Pat. No.9,802,546, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated hereinby reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to vehicular storage components,and more specifically, an under-seat storage drawer with a noiseabsorbing clamp that engages the structure of the seat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various automobiles include storage areas below vehicle seats where suchstorage areas can include drawers, bins, and other similar containers.Such containers can be directly attached to the frame of a seat andsecured thereto. Movements of the seat can, in certain situations, betransferred to the container, such that the container also experiencesmovement during operation of the vehicle and/or use of the correspondingvehicle seat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a storage containerfor a vehicular seat includes a cushion pan for supporting a seatcushion. A lateral support bar extends between opposing side members andis positioned below the cushion pan. A container housing is disposedbetween the opposing side members and has a forward portion fixedlyattached to an underside of the cushion pan. A rear clamp of thecontainer housing defines a containment region. The lateral support baris disposed within the containment region and the rear clamp defines asurface engagement with the outer surface of the lateral support bar.The rear clamp is slidably engaged with the lateral support bar, andgenerally vertical displacement of the container housing relative to thelateral support bar biases the lateral support bar against the rearclamp to define an absorbing state of the rear clamp. The rear clamp inthe absorbing state receives at least a portion of the generallyvertical displacement of the container housing relative to the lateralsupport bar.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an under-seatvehicular storage bin includes a seat frame having a lateral supportbar, a container housing having a forward portion fixedly attached tothe seat frame and a rear clamp of the container housing slidablyattached to the lateral support bar, wherein the rear clamp includes atop flange and a bottom flange laterally spaced from the top flange.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicularunder-seat storage bin includes a seat frame having cushion and alateral support extending between opposing sides, a housing disposedbetween the opposing sides and fixedly attached to the cushion and arear clamp of the housing defining a surface engagement with the lateralsupport. Generally vertical displacement of the housing relative to thelateral support defines an absorbing state of the rear clamp thatmaintains the surface engagement.

These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present inventionwill be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art uponstudying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a vehicle and a vehicle seat havingan under-seat storage bin that incorporates an aspect of the soundabsorbing clamp;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a passenger cabin of the vehicle ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of various components of a seat frameincorporating an under-seat storage bin incorporating an aspect of thesound absorbing clamp;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the seat frame of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the seat frame of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the seat frame of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the seat frame of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the seat frame of FIG. 7 taken alongline VIII-VIII;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the seat frame of FIG. 8illustrating the sound absorbing clamp being engaged with the lateralframe member of the seat frame;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the seat frame of FIG. 10 showingthe sound absorbing clamp engaging the lateral member of the seat frame;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an aspect of the sound absorbingclamp illustrating a downward tolerance absorbing movement of the soundabsorbing clamp relative to the lateral frame member; and

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an aspect of the sound absorbingclamp illustrating an upward tolerance absorbing movement of the soundabsorbing clamp relative to the lateral frame member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,”“left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivativesthereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. However, itis to be understood that the invention may assume various alternativeorientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It isalso to be understood that the specific devices and processesillustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the followingspecification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive conceptsdefined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and otherphysical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed hereinare not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly stateotherwise.

As shown in FIGS. 1-8, reference numeral 10 generally refers to avehicular seat installed within a passenger cabin 12 of a vehicle 14,where the seat 10 includes a storage container 16 disposed within acontainer space 18 at least partially defined by the seat frame 20 ofthe seat 10 of the vehicle 14. The storage container 16 for the seat 10of the vehicle 14 can include a cushion pan 22 for supporting a cushion24. A lateral support bar 26 extends between opposing side members 28.The lateral support bar 26 is typically positioned below the cushion pan22. A container housing 30 is disposed between the opposing side members28 and includes a forward portion 32 that is fixedly attached to anunderside 34 of the cushion pan 22. A rear clamp 36 of the containerhousing 30 includes a containment region 38. It is contemplated that thelateral support bar 26 can be disposed within the containment region 38,wherein the rear clamp 36 defines a surface engagement with the outersurface 40 of the lateral support bar 26. The rear clamp 36 is slidablyengaged with the lateral support bar 26. According to the variousembodiments, generally vertical displacement 42 of the container housing30 relative to the lateral support bar 26 serves to bias the lateralsupport bar 26 against the rear clamp 36 to define an absorbing state 44of the rear clamp 36, wherein the rear clamp 36, when in the absorbingstate 44, receives at least a portion of the generally verticaldisplacement 42 of the container housing 30 relative to the lateralsupport bar 26.

Referring to FIGS. 3-8, it is contemplated that the rear clamp 36 caninclude at least one top flange 50 and at least one bottom flange 52.The at least one top flange 50 slidably engages a top lateral portion 54of the lateral support bar 26. The at least one bottom flange 52slidably engages a bottom lateral portion 56 of the lateral support bar26. It is also contemplated that the at least one top flange 50 and theat least one bottom flange 52 can be positioned in a vertically alignedor vertically offset configuration along the top and bottom lateralportions 54, 56 of the lateral support bar 26, respectively. In thismanner, the various top flanges 50 and bottom flanges 52 of the rearclamp 36 of the container housing 30 can be positioned in a verticallyaligned configuration or in an alternating configuration that alternatesin engagement with the top and bottom lateral portions 54, 56 of thelateral support bar 26.

Referring again to FIGS. 3-8, according to the various embodiments, itis contemplated that at least one top flange 50 can include first andsecond top flanges 70, 72 and wherein the at least one bottom flange 52can include a single bottom flange 52. According to the variousembodiments of the device, the rear clamp 36 can include various numbersof top flanges 50 and bottom flanges 52 that can be used to at leastpartially surround the outer surface 40 of the lateral support bar 26.Each of the top and bottom flanges 50, 52 at least partially defines thecontainment region 38 that receives the lateral support bar 26 andprovides structure for creating the surface engagement between the rearclamp 36 and the lateral support bar 26. Based upon this configuration,it is contemplated that the rear clamp 36, when in the absorbing state44, defines a range of flexibility 74 of the rear clamp 36. The range offlexibility 74 defines a range within which the rear clamp 36 operatesto receive at least a portion of the generally vertical displacement 42of the container housing 30 relative to the lateral support bar 26. Inthis manner, during operation of the vehicle 14 and/or when an occupantof the vehicle 14 sits in the seat 10 above the storage container 16,movement of the seat 10 can be transferred through the seat 10 and intothe storage container 16, such that the container housing 30 movesrelative to the seat frame 20. In particular, a rear portion 80 of thecontainer housing 30 can receive movement through the weight of anoccupant or through movement and/or vibrations of a vehicle 14 duringoperation. These movements of the container housing 30 can betransferred through a rear portion 80 of the storage container 16 andinto the rear clamp 36 which is slidably attached to the lateral supportbar 26. Accordingly, the container housing 30 moves with respect to thelateral support bar 26 while the rear clamp 36 maintains the engagementbetween the container housing 30 and the lateral support bar 26. Thegenerally vertical displacement 42 of the container housing 30 that maybe caused by the weight of an occupant sitting in the seat 10 can beabsorbed through the surface engagement of the rear clamp 36 with thelateral support bar 26, as will be described more fully below.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-12, the lateral support bar 26 can be agenerally tubular member that extends between the opposing side members28 of the seat frame 20. Typically, the lateral support bar 26 will be agenerally cylindrical member that extends between the opposing sidemembers 28. When the rear clamp 36 is disposed under the seat 10 suchthat the rear clamp 36 is placed in engagement with the lateral supportbar 26, the top and bottom flanges 50, 52 can be biased outward as therear clamp 36 engages the lateral support bar 26 to allow the rear clamp36 to extend outward and around the lateral support bar 26 such that thelateral support bar 26 can enter through a clamp opening 90 of the rearclamp 36 and be contained through a surface engagement within thecontainment region 38 of the rear clamp 36. As the lateral support bar26 is disposed in a containment region 38, the top and bottom flanges50, 52 are biased toward one another such that the top and bottomflanges 50, 52 of the rear clamp 36 at least partially surround thelateral support bar 26 to contain the lateral support bar 26 in thecontainment region 38 of the rear clamp 36. To assist the placement ofthe lateral support bar 26 within the containment region 38, one or bothof the top and bottom flanges 50, 52 can include receiving flanges 92that extend generally away from one another. The receiving flange 92 ofthe top flange 50 extends in a generally upward direction and thereceiving flange 92 of the bottom flange 52 extends in a generallydownward direction to define the clamp opening 90. In this manner, asthe receiving flanges 92 engage the outer surface 40 of the lateralsupport bar 26, the receiving flanges 92 are biased outward through asliding engagement of the receiving flanges 92 with the outer surface 40of the lateral support bar 26 and bias the top and bottom flanges 50, 52outward such that the lateral support bar 26 can enter through the clampopening 90 and into the containment region 38 of the rear clamp 36. Oncethe lateral support bar 26 is in the containment region 38, the top andbottom flanges 50, 52 of the rear clamp 36 are biased toward an originalposition and generally toward one another through the generalconfiguration of the top and bottom flanges 50, 52. The top and bottomflanges 50, 52 engage the top and bottom lateral portions 54, 56 of thelateral support bar 26, respectively.

Referring again to FIGS. 3-12, the storage container 16 for the seat 10of vehicle 14, such as an under-seat vehicular storage bin, can includea seat frame 20 having a lateral support bar 26 and a container housing30 having a forward portion 32 that is fixedly attached to the seatframe 20. The forward portion 32 of the container housing 30 istypically attached to the underside 34 of the cushion pan 22 of the seatframe 20. A rear clamp 36 of the container housing 30 is slidablyattached to the lateral support bar 26, such that the rear clamp 36includes a top flange 50 and a bottom flange 52 that are laterallyspaced from one another and, typically, not in a vertical alignment withone another. According to the various embodiments, the top and bottomflanges 50, 52 of the rear clamp 36 can include a displacement absorbingregion 100 within which the lateral support bar 26 is slidably engagedby the top and bottom flanges 50, 52. The displacement absorbing region100 defines a static state 102, wherein the container housing 30 is freeof displacement relative to the lateral support bar 26. In the staticstate 102, the container housing 30 is substantially free of verticaland/or lateral displacement 42, 106 while attached to the lateralsupport bar 26. The displacement absorbing region 100 also defines theabsorbing state 44, wherein the container housing 30 is displacedrelative to the lateral support bar 26. The displacement of thecontainer housing 30 relative to the lateral support bar 26 can be anyone or more of rotational displacement 104, lateral displacement 106 orvertical displacement 42. In the event of lateral displacement 106, theslidable engagement between the rear clamp 36 and the lateral supportbar 26 allows the container housing 30 to slide horizontally such thatthe rear clamp 36 slides along the outer surface 40 of the lateralsupport bar 26, typically along a longitudinal axis 108 of the lateralsupport bar 26. Because of the surface engagement between the rear clamp36 and the lateral support bar 26, there are no fixing members thatproject into the lateral support bar 26 to fix the lateral position ofthe rear clamp 36 with respect to the lateral support bar 26.

With regard to vertical displacement 42, the displacement absorbingregion 100, as exemplified in FIGS. 11 and 12, allows for deflection ofthe various top and bottom flanges 50, 52 of the rear clamp 36 such thatvertical displacement 42 of the container housing 30 can be absorbed asthe deflection of the top and bottom flanges 50, 52 allows for thegenerally vertical movement of the container housing 30 with respect tothe lateral support bar 26 and the seat 10 of vehicle 14 in general. Itis contemplated that the fixed connection between the forward portion 32of the container housing 30 with the seat frame 20, such as the cushionpan 22, can include a generally flexible connection that allows for thevertical and lateral movement of the rear portion 80 of the containerhousing 30, such that the rear clamp 36 can move within the displacementabsorbing region 100 of the top and bottom flanges 50, 52.

According to the various embodiments, through this displacementabsorbing region 100 that allows for vertical and/or lateraldisplacement 42, 106 of the rear clamp 36 with respect to the lateralsupport bar 26, various tolerances are provided for in the manufactureof the vehicle 14, such that exact dimensioning of the seat frame 20with respect to the container housing 30 may not be necessary andvariations in the dimensional tolerances of the seat frame 20 can beaccounted for through the inclusion of the displacement absorbing region100 within the top and bottom flanges 50, 52 of the rear clamp 36.Additionally, the displacement absorbing region 100 of the top andbottom flanges 50, 52 of the rear clamp 36 also provide for movement ofthe container housing 30 with respect to the seat frame 20 such thatvarious squeaks, creaks, and other movement-related noises that canoccur during operation of the vehicle 14 and use of the seat 10 can beminimized through the surface connection between the rear clamp 36 andthe outer surface 40 of the lateral support bar 26. Because the top andbottom flanges 50, 52 are allowed to slide along the outer surface 40 ofthe lateral support bar 26 and also deflect around the outer surface 40of the lateral support bar 26, these various movement-related noises canbe absorbed or substantially absorbed. In this manner, thesemovement-related noises can be minimized by providing a system thatallows for limited slidable movement between the container housing 30and the lateral support bar 26.

Referring again to FIGS. 3-12, it is contemplated that the lateralsupport bar 26 can include an arcuate cross section, such as a circle,oval, irregular arcuate cross section, or other similar arcuate crosssection. Other cross sections can include, but are not limited to,rectangular, triangular, polygonal, irregular, or other similar shape.Regardless of the cross-sectional shape of the lateral support bar 26,the lateral support bar 26 is configured to engage the containmentregion 38 of the rear clamp 36 to allow the displacement absorbingregion 100 of the top and bottom flanges 50, 52 of the rear clamp 36 toabsorb movement of the container housing 30 with respect to the lateralsupport bar 26. Accordingly, various movements of the top and bottomflanges 50, 52 relative to the lateral support bar 26 are configured tobe absorbed through the sliding movement of the top and bottom flanges50, 52 with respect to the outer surface 40 of the lateral support bar26. As discussed above, these sliding movements can be a lateraldisplacement 106, vertical displacement 42, rotational displacement 104,combinations thereof, and other similar directional movements of thecontainer housing 30 with respect to the lateral support bar 26 and theseat frame 20 in general.

According to the various embodiments, in order to allow for variousmovements of the rear clamp 36 with respect to the lateral support bar26, the top and bottom flanges 50, 52 and the container housing 30 aretypically free of engagement with front and rear lateral portions 114,116 of the lateral support bar 26. As discussed above, the primaryengagement between the rear clamp 36 and the lateral support bar 26 iswith the top and bottom lateral portions 54, 56 of the outer surface 40of the lateral support bar 26. It is contemplated that in variousembodiments of the device, at least one or both of the top and bottomflanges 50, 52 can at least partially engage the front and rear lateralportions 114, 116 of the lateral support bar 26. Such engagement can beexperienced during displacement of the top and bottom flanges 50, 52during the general vertical displacement 42 of the container housing 30with respect to the lateral support bar 26. Movement of the top andbottom flanges 50, 52 in the absorbing state 44 through portions of thedisplacement of the absorbing region can cause portions of the top andbottom flanges 50, 52 to at least partially engage the outer surface 40of the lateral support bar 26 within the front and rear lateral portions114, 116 of the lateral support bar 26.

According to the various embodiments, as exemplified in FIGS. 3-12, thetop and bottom flanges 50, 52 can include various numbers of top andbottom flanges 50, 52, respectively. Accordingly, the various topflanges 50 can include first and second top flanges 70, 72 that arespaced apart from one another, and the bottom flanges 52 can include asingle bottom flange 52 or can include first and second bottom flanges120, 122 that are also spaced apart from one another. It is contemplatedthat the top and bottom flanges 50, 52 can be in vertical alignment, orcan be alternatively spaced such that the top and bottom flanges 50, 52are out of vertical alignment with one another. This lack of verticalalignment can cause the top flange 50 to be positioned between the firstand second bottom flanges 120, 122. Alternatively, a single bottomflange 52 can be disposed between the first and second top flanges 70,72.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-12, the vehicular under-seat storage bin,that includes the storage container 16 attached to the seat frame 20 ofthe seat 10, can include the seat frame 20 having a cushion 24 and alateral support such as the lateral support bar 26 extending between theopposing side members 28. A housing, such as the container housing 30,can be disposed between the opposing sides and fixedly attached to thecushion 24. It is contemplated that the cushion 24 can include a cushionpan 22 that supports the cushion 24 from below. According to the variousembodiments, the housing can be attached to either the cushion 24, astructural portion thereof, or a separate cushion pan 22 that isattached to the cushion 24. The rear clamp 36 of the housing defines asurface engagement with the lateral support bar 26, wherein generallyvertical displacement 42 of the housing relative to the lateral supportbar 26 defines an absorbing state 44 of the rear clamp 36 that maintainsthe surface engagement between the rear clamp 36 and the lateral supportbar 26.

According to the various embodiments, as exemplified in FIGS. 1-12, therear clamp 36 defines a displacement absorbing region 100 that at leastpartially contains the lateral support bar 26. This displacementabsorbing region 100 defines the static state 102, wherein the containerhousing 30 is free of displacement relative to the lateral support bar26. The displacement absorbing region 100 also defines the absorbingstate 44, wherein the container housing 30 is displaced relative to thelateral support bar 26. The absorbing state 44 of the displacementabsorbing region 100 is further defined by at least a portion of therear clamp 36 being vertically biased by the lateral support bar 26 toreceive at least a portion of the lateral displacement 106, verticaldisplacement 42 and/or rotational displacement 104 of the containerhousing 30. It is contemplated that the rear clamp 36 can include atleast one flange, such as a top flange 50, and/or a bottom flange 52,wherein the at least one flange engages top and bottom lateral portions54, 56 of the lateral support bar 26.

According to the various embodiments, it is contemplated that the rearclamp 36 can include a single flange that extends around a portion ofthe lateral support bar 26, wherein the single flange engages both thetop and bottom lateral portions 54, 56 of the lateral support bar 26.The single flange of the rear clamp 36 can also, in various embodiments,engage a front and/or rear lateral portion 114, 116 of the lateralsupport bar 26 as well. It is also contemplated that the single flangecan be free of engagement with the front and rear lateral portions 114,116 of the lateral support bar 26.

Referring again to FIGS. 3-12, the various lateral movements of thecontainer housing 30 can include side-to-side displacement as well asforward and rearward displacement and can also be absorbed by the rearclamp 36. This forward and rearward displacement can be absorbed byembodiments of the rear clamp 36 having separate top and bottom flanges50, 52 or a single flange. Again, the outward displacement of the topand bottom flanges 50, 52, as generally exemplified in FIGS. 10 and 11,can serve to allow for sideways, forward and rearward lateraldisplacement 106 of the container housing 30 with respect to the lateralsupport bar 26, and also contain the lateral support bar 26 within thecontainment region 38 defined by the top and bottom flanges 50, 52 ofthe rear clamp 36.

According to the various embodiments, the container housing 30 caninclude various operable containers that can include, but are notlimited to, drawers 130, doors, slidable bins, rotating bins, trays,hooks, and other similar containment systems. These containment systemsare configured to be attached to the rear clamp 36, such that the rearclamp 36 can engage the lateral support bar 26 to define the variouspositions of the rear clamp 36 within the displacement absorbing region100 defined by the top and bottom flanges 50, 52. As discussed above,the movement of the top and bottom flanges 50, 52 within thedisplacement absorbing region 100 serves to absorb various creaks,squeaks, and other movement-related noises that may otherwise beexperienced between the container housing 30 and the seat frame 20.

According to the various embodiments, it is contemplated that thecontainer housing 30 can include a forward clamp that has aconfiguration similar to the rear clamp 36 that engages a portion of theseat frame 20 at the forward portion 32 of the container housing 30. Insuch an embodiment, it is contemplated that both the forward andrearward portions of the container housing 30, or forward or rearportions 32, 80 of the container housing 30 can include the clamp thatdefines the displacement absorbing region 100 of the container housing30 for absorbing various tolerances and movement-related noises of thecontainer housing 30 with respect to the seat frame 20 of the seat 10 ofvehicle 14.

It is contemplated that the rear clamp 36 of the container housing 30can be made of various materials that can include, but are not limitedto, plastic, various polymers, metals, combinations thereof, and othersimilar rigid but displaceable materials that can move within thedisplacement absorbing region 100 defined by the top and bottom flanges50, 52 of the rear clamp 36. Typically, plastic or other similarpolymer-type material will be used for the rear clamp 36 to allow forthe slidable engagement between the rear clamp 36 and the lateralsupport bar 26. In such an embodiment, the sliding engagement betweenthe rear clamp 36 and the lateral support bar 26 would produce minimalnoise as a result of this sliding engagement.

According to the various embodiments, the clamps that define thedisplacement of the absorbing region can also be disposed proximate theopposing side members 28 of the seat frame 20. In such an embodiment,sides of the container housing 30 can include the rear clamps 36 thatengage support members defined within each of the opposing side members28 of the seat frame 20. It is contemplated that these rear clamps 36could each define the displacement absorbing region 100 to allow forvarious movements of the container housing 30 with respect to the seatframe 20. Where the rear clamps 36 are disposed proximate the opposingside members 28 of the seat frame 20, various rotational movements ofthe container housing 30, as well as vertical, lateral, and rotationalmovements can be absorbed through the operation of the one or more rearclamps 36 through the displacement absorbing region 100 defined by thevarious top and bottom flanges 50, 52.

Through the inclusion of the container housing 30 having the rear clamp36 that engages the lateral support bar 26, manufacturing of the seat 10of vehicle 14 and the storage container 16 disposed under the seat 10can be a more efficient process. Various conventional assemblies forabsorbing tolerances and movement-related noises can be eliminated suchas various added fasteners, sliding assemblies, rocking assemblies,flexible tolerance absorbing mechanisms, and other similar assembliescan be eliminated through the inclusion of the single rear clamp 36having the various top and bottom flanges 50, 52 to define thedisplacement absorbing region 100.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made onthe aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of thepresent invention, and further it is to be understood that such conceptsare intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claimsby their language expressly state otherwise.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle comprising: a cushion pan forsupporting a seat cushion; a lateral support bar positioned below thecushion pan; a container housing fixed to the cushion pan; and a rearclamp slidably engaged with the lateral support bar, wherein generallyvertical displacement of the container housing relative to the lateralsupport bar biases the lateral support bar against the rear clamp todefine an absorbing state of the rear clamp.
 2. The vehicle of claim 1,wherein the rear clamp includes at least one top flange and at least onebottom flange, wherein the at least one top flange slidably engages atop lateral portion of the lateral support bar, and wherein the at leastone bottom flange slidably engages a bottom lateral portion of thelateral support bar.
 3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the at least onetop flange and the at least one bottom flange are positioned in avertically offset configuration along the top and bottom lateralportions, respectively.
 4. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the at leastone top flange includes first and second top flanges, and wherein the atleast one bottom flange includes a single bottom flange.
 5. The vehicleof claim 1, wherein the rear clamp in the absorbing state defines arange of flexibility, wherein the range of flexibility defines a rangewithin which the rear clamp operates to receive at least a portion ofthe generally vertical displacement of the container housing relative tothe lateral support bar.
 6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the lateralsupport bar is a generally tubular member.
 7. The vehicle of claim 1,wherein the lateral support bar is a generally cylindrical member.
 8. Anunder-seat vehicular storage bin comprising: a seat frame having alateral support bar; a housing fixedly attached to the seat frame; and aclamp of the housing slidably attached to the lateral support bar,wherein the clamp includes a top flange and a bottom flange laterallyspaced from the top flange.
 9. The under-seat vehicular storage bin ofclaim 8, wherein the top and bottom flanges define a displacementabsorbing region within which the lateral support bar is slidablyengaged by the top and bottom flanges.
 10. The under-seat vehicularstorage bin of claim 9, wherein the displacement absorbing regiondefines a static state, wherein the housing is free of displacementrelative to the lateral support bar, and an absorbing state, wherein thehousing is displaced relative to the lateral support bar, wherein theabsorbing state is further defined by at least one of the top and bottomflanges being vertically biased by the lateral support bar to receive atleast a portion of the displacement of the housing.
 11. The under-seatvehicular storage bin of claim 10, wherein the lateral support barincludes an arcuate cross section.
 12. The under-seat vehicular storagebin of claim 8, wherein the top and bottom flanges and the housing arefree of engagement with front and rear lateral portions of the lateralsupport bar.
 13. The under-seat vehicular storage bin of claim 10,wherein the bottom flange includes a first bottom flange and a secondbottom flange, wherein the first bottom flange is spaced apart from thesecond bottom flange.
 14. The under-seat vehicular storage bin of claim13, wherein the top flange is positioned between the first and secondbottom flanges.
 15. The under-seat vehicular storage bin of claim 10,wherein the top flange includes first and second top flanges, whereinthe first top flange is spaced apart from the second top flange, andwherein the bottom flange is positioned between the first and second topflanges.
 16. The under-seat vehicular storage bin of claim 10, whereinthe top and bottom flanges in the absorbing state define a range offlexibility, wherein the range of flexibility defines a range withinwhich the housing moves relative to the lateral support bar.
 17. Avehicular under-seat storage bin comprising: a seat frame having alateral support extending between opposing side members; a housingdisposed between the opposing side members and fixedly attached to acushion pan of the seat frame; and a clamp of the housing engaged withthe lateral support, wherein generally vertical displacement of thehousing relative to the lateral support defines an absorbing state ofthe clamp that maintains sliding engagement with the lateral support.18. The vehicular under-seat storage bin of claim 17, wherein the clampdefines a displacement absorbing region that at least partially containsthe lateral support, wherein the displacement absorbing region defines astatic state, wherein the housing is free of displacement relative tothe lateral support, and the absorbing state, wherein the housing isdisplaced relative to the lateral support, wherein the absorbing stateis further defined by at least a portion of the clamp being verticallybiased by the lateral support to receive at least a portion of thedisplacement of the housing.
 19. The vehicular under-seat storage bin ofclaim 18, wherein the clamp includes at least one flange, wherein the atleast one flange engages top and bottom lateral portions of the lateralsupport.
 20. The vehicular under-seat storage bin of claim 19, whereinthe clamp is free of engagement with front and rear lateral portions ofthe lateral support.